364 The HISTORY of the PURITANS. Chap. VIII. -wen tion met in queen Mary's reign ; about fifty fix were taken prifoners, and x Pent two by two to the goals about London, where feveral of their friends 5 had been confined for a confiderable time. Theñexaml- At their examination they confefläd, that for fome years theyhad met in Strype's the fields in the fummer time, at five of the clock in the morning of the nais, p. 579. Lord's day, and in the winter at private houfes; that theycontinued all day in prayer and expounding the fcriptures ; that they dined together, and after dinnermade a collection for their diet, and fent the remainder of the money to their brethren in prifon ; that they did not ufe the Lord'sprayer, apprehending it not tobe intended by our blefi'ed Saviour to be ufed as a farm, after the fending down of the fpirit at Penteco/l. Their adverfaries charged them with feveral extravagancies about baptifm, marriage, lay- preaching, &c. from which they vindicated themfelves in a very folid and M.S. p.850. judicious reply, (hewing how far they difowned, and with what limita- tions they acknowledged the charge. Theirper But the hilltops obferving no meafures with this people, they ventured council. to lay their cafe before the lords of the council in an humble petition, Stryüe'sman. wherein they fay, that " upon -a careful examination of the holy Icrip- Vol. ult. " tures, we find the Englifh hierarchy to be dif tenant from Chrift's in(litu_ p 95' 97 " tion, and to be derived from antichrift, being the fame the pope left " in this land, to which we dare not fobjeEt ourfelves. We further t0 find, that God has commanded all that believe the gofpel to walk in " that holy faith and order, which hehas appointed in his church; where- " fore in the reverend fear of his name we have joined ourfelves together, " and fubjeéled our fouls and bodies to tbofe laws and ordinances; and " have chofen to ourfelves fuch a miniftry of pallor, teacher, elders and " deacons, as Chrift has given to his church on earth to the world's ends " hoping for the promifed aßïftance of his grace in our attendance upon " him; notwitb/ianding any prohibition of men, or what by men can be done " unto us. We are ready to prove our church order to be warranted " by the word of God, allowable by her majefly's laws, and no ways " prejudicial to her fovereignpower; and to difprove the publick hierarchy, " worfhip, and government, by fuch evidence of fcripture, as our ad- .e verfaries shall not be able to withftand ; protefling if we fail herein, " ° not only willingly to fuflain fuch deferved punilhment as lhall be in- " flitted upon us, but to become conformable for the future, if we overthrow not our adverfaries, we will not fay if our adverfaries over- " come us. Their Duffer- " But the prelates of this land have for a long time dealt molt inja- ings. " rioufly, unlawfully, and outragioully with us, by the great power and ee high authority they have gotten in their hands, and ufurped above all " the publickcourts, judges, laws, and charters of this land, perfecuting, " imprifon-
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=